AN EVALUATION OF KONIMETER PERFORMANCE—I. DETERMINATION OF THE PARTICLE ACCEPTANCE CURVES OF CONTINUOUSLY ASPIRATED KONIMETERS USING LATEX SPHERES

Abstract

Two konimeters, the Witwatersrand (with pre-impactor) and the Gathercole, were used to sample unit density latex spheres. The collection efficiency of the konimeters for particles ranging from 0.8 to 10.0 μm in diameter was established in comparison with a thermal precipitator which sampled the same aerosol. The acceptance curve fell with increasing particle size to a minimum at 2–3 μm, rose to a peak at about 5 μm and then fell away at larger sizes. It is probably influenced by the entry efficiency of the jet, the capture efficiency of the adhesive on the slide and particle bounce-off.